Keeping ‘ayam serama’ as a hobby

0

A Serama chicken can weigh between 250 and 500 gm. The breed is the smallest in the world.

WHEN an animal is way bigger or smaller than its normal size, it usually becomes an object of interest.

That’s probably why some people rear bantam chickens as pets. These are a special breed, weighing between 250-500 gm and much smaller than ordinary fowls.

In Malaysia, the bantam chicken is known as ‘Ayam Serama’ or Serama Chicken, said to have originated from Kelantan. The breed is believed to be a cross between Japanese and Malaysian bantams.

Some say these miniature fowls first came to Malaya as gifts from the King of Thailand to a local sultan. They became popular as pets and were often referred to as ‘ayam katik’ (pygmy chickens) or ‘ayam cantik’ (pretty chickens) and are still being so-called to this day.

The popularity of the modern breed known as ‘Serama’ has been attributed to the efforts of one enthusiast — Wee Yean Een from Kelantan. He was the first to call the species ‘Serama’ after Rama, the title of the kings of Thailand.

According to Simon Lu of Kuching, the Serama is the smallest chicken in the world, and not known to many, there is a growing local community of Serama enthusiasts. Serama fan clubs have also been formed.

Bantam chickens don’t need a lot of space, aren’t very expensive to maintain and can be kept either outdoors or indoors.

Serama chickens first became noticeable in Sarawak in 2000. At first, not many people knew about them. It was only later that they got noticed and became known, especially among the Malays. Now, the other communities are also showing a keen interest.

Lu said he and his friends took up the hobby of rearing Seramas two years ago. He has formed a club — Kebangkitan Liga Geng Serama (KLGS) — with 12 active members presently.

Many Serama lovers breed the miniature chickens as ornamental pets whose beautiful plumage is why Serama pageants are held and getting more popular among enthusiasts.

Serama chickens seem to like posing for spectators. They might flap their wings and stand upright proudly, pulling their heads back a little as if to show off their large chests.

According to Lu, as the feathered contestants strut on a platform, the judges look for features such as feather quality, poise (standing and walking) and temperament. Extra points will be awarded for ‘graceful and majestic’ wing flappings.

The way the chest protrudes out and the head gets pushed back is also noteworthy. The appearance of the wattle and the comb and the overall shape and colours are taken into account as well.

Lu, originally from Sibu, hoped more competitions would be held to let the public know about ‘ayam katik’.

“This is one way to encourage more people to keep Serama chickens as a hobby,” he said, adding that a lot of retirees were, in fact, rearing them for fun.

The legs of the chicken should be strong, stable and wide apart enough to allow for a full and muscular body. The thighs must be well muscled with shanks of good thickness and not soft and weak.

He hoped more youths would be attracted to this absorbing and healthy past-time.

Lu said his club had not organised any competition yet but he and his friends did take part in  some exhibitions and competitions for the fun of it.

He revealed they were planning to hold an exhibition in Sibu next year to promote the Ayam Serama hobby.

“Since there is already a local community of Serama lovers, those interested in taking up the hobby should be able to get the support they need, especially via Facebook or WhatsApp,”  he said.

He pointed out that with good care, Serama chickens could live a long time — some up to 13 years.

“They make wonderful pets – both to keep and breed. They don’t need a lot of space, aren’t very expensive to maintain and can be kept outdoors or indoors. They don’t fly. Each needs only about a pound of normal chicken feed a month.

“Serama chickens are friendly and easy to handle. Although some may seem quite confident and assertive, they aren’t aggressive when handled with respect.”

(From left) Clement, Zack, and Lu are KLGS members. The three friends took up rearing Seramas about two years ago.

When Lu first saw these chickens, they reminded him of little soldiers from the way they strutted around with a proud-looking stature, holding their wings straight down and pushing their well-developed chests out high.

“They don’t assume a horizontal posture like the usual poultry,” he said.

He described Serama chickens as good-natured with a ‘very docile’ temperament, saying they enjoy the company of people who are kind and attentive to them.

“Like people with different characters, animals such as chickens also have different characters although theirs is not as wide-ranging as humans’.”

A good Serama breed is assertive, bold, yet calm and easily manageable. It won’t become aggressive easily when handled.

“A Serama chicken seems to like posing for spectators. It might flap its wings and then stand upright proudly, pulling its head back a little as if to show off its large chest. It might nod its head like a pigeon sometimes does.”

According to Lu, in terms of body profile, the Serama chicken should have a somewhat vase-like shape when viewed from the side.

The whole body must be well-muscled with chest carried high, full and well forward. Viewed from above, the shape is somewhat elliptical, tapering towards the tail and the body should be short.

Wings should be large in proportion to the body and should be naturally held in a vertical position, just clearing the ground and leaving the feet partially visible. Shoulders should be set high.

The tail should be full and carried high, pointing upwards and held close to the body with no space between body and tail.

Simon Lu and his Serama pets.

The sickle feathers should be relatively straight and spear-like, about an inch longer than the other tail feathers and just a few inches above the head.

The remaining tail feathers should not be higher than the tip of the comb when the chicken is standing upright.

The main tail feathers should be broad and overlap neatly. When the tail is open and viewed from behind, it should span to an angle of 45 degrees, forming something like a ‘V’ shape.

The head should be small and carried well back about vertical to the ground. The comb should have a minimum of five serrations, is straight and smooth and free of folds or any deformities. Wattles should blend pleasantly with the comb and free from folds and wrinkles.

The legs should be strong and stable and wide enough apart to allow for a full and muscular body. The thighs must be well muscled with shanks of good thickness and not soft and weak.

Lu estimated there could be some 200,000 Serama chickens in Malaysia at present and their popularity has spread as far as Europe and America with clubs popping up to celebrate the decorative breed’s distinctive characteristics.

Varieties have emerged as a result of experimental cross-breeding of different species.